Strengthening Public Health Infrastructure to Prevent Future Pandemics: Health Minister

New Delhi: The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to global health systems and economies, highlighting significant gaps in preparedness and response mechanisms. During a recent Lok Sabha session, the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, informed that the government has taken proactive steps to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, enhance economic resilience, and improve pandemic preparedness.

A key part of the government's recovery plan has been robust capital expenditure, especially in infrastructure, and support for small enterprises, agriculture, and education. According to the Ministry, these efforts have contributed to a projected average annual growth rate of 8.2% for the period 2021-2025, despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainties.

In anticipation of future pandemics, India has significantly enhanced its medical and emergency infrastructure through a series of targeted schemes and programs. These initiatives focus on both preventive measures and strengthening the country’s healthcare capacity.

Research and development (R&D) is another pillar of India’s strategy to combat future pandemics. The government has promoted R&D across a wide array of fields, including disease epidemiology, genomics, and the development of diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics. The Department of Health Research, alongside the Ministry of Science and Technology, has been actively involved in promoting research to ensure that India is ready to respond swiftly to any future health crises.

The government has also allocated substantial financial resources to further bolster the healthcare system. Moreover, raising awareness among the general public is essential to ensure that communities are prepared for future pandemics. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched several campaigns under the Swastha Nagrik Abhiyan (SNA).

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He asked about the details of the preparedness of India’s medical and emergency infrastructure for future possible pandemics;

He seeks to know the total number of researchers and professionals who have been appointed/presently employed to ensure that India is prepared for future pandemic situations in our country.

He also asked about the total amount of funds allocated and utilised to make our medical infrastructure prepared for possible pandemics in the future across the country during the last three years, State/UT-wise, especially in Andhra Pradesh; and

Furthermore, he asked whether the Government has undertaken any campaigns for raising awareness on pandemic preparedness amongst the general public and if so, the details thereof?

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Prevention of and preparedness against pandemics is a shared global responsibility. In order to better prepare against future pandemics/public health emergencies in the country, the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare provides requisite support to States/UTs to enhance their capabilities.

MoS Health further informed that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system, including setting up of health facilities and recruitment of medical personnel based on the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under National Health Mission.

Further, the Government of India has launched several schemes to address healthcare infrastructure in all the States/UTs in the country, in addition to the National Health Mission:

• Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) envisages increased investments in public health and other health reforms to provide better access to health in rural areas by i) Strengthening of Health and Wellness Centres in villages and cities for early detection of diseases; ii) Addition of new critical care-related beds at district level hospitals; iii) Support for Block Public Health Units (BPHU) in 11 high focus States; and iv) Integrated district public health laboratories in all districts.

• The Fifteenth Finance Commission (FC-XV) has recommended grants through local governments for specific components of the health sector and spread over the five-year period from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26 to facilitate strengthening of the health system at the grassroots level.

• The Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) aims at correcting regional imbalances in the availability of affordable tertiary healthcare services and to augment facilities for quality medical education in the country. The Scheme has two components, namely, (i) setting up of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS); and (ii) Upgradation of existing Government Medical Colleges/Institutions (GMCIs).

• Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), ‘Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals’, with preference to underserved areas and aspirational districts, where there is no existing Government or private medical college. The fund sharing mechanism between the Centre and State Governments is in the ratio of 90:10 for North Eastern and Special Category States, and 60:40 for others.

Preparedness and response to pandemics is a multi-faceted activity wherein research and development activities span a wide array of activities, including disease epidemiology, genomics, development, and clinical testing of pandemic countermeasures like diagnostics, drugs, and vaccines, logistics, etc. Government of India promotes research and development in such Page 3 of 3 activities through a number of technical Ministries/Departments, including the Department of Health Research and the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Funding support has been provided to States/UTs for health system strengthening to meet any exigency due to public health emergencies like pandemics. During the FY 2020-21, funds to the tune of Rs. 8473.73 crore have been released to the States/UTs towards the India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package (ECRP-I) for health infrastructure strengthening, expansion of laboratory network, surveillance, procurement of medical logistics, etc. Under India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Package-Phase II, a sum of Rs. 12,740.22 crore support was provided to States/UTs for ramping up health infrastructure and provision of medical logistics. This included funds provided for enhancement of bed capacities at Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres and District Hospitals; establishment of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) plants, establishment of paediatric Centres of Excellence and paediatric ICU beds, etc.

Further, a release of approximately Rs. 4500.64 crore has been provided as central release of grants under PM-ABHIM (FY 2022-23 till FY 2024-25) for better public health preparedness through Critical Care Blocks at Medical Colleges and District Hospitals, Integrated Public Health Laboratories, etc.

Financial support of Rs. 441.94 crore, Rs. 417.91 crore, and Rs. 80.86 crore was provided to the State Government of Andhra Pradesh under ECRP-I, ECRP-II, and PM-ABHIM, respectively.

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